Poletop switch automation system

Abstract

A switch automation system which activates poletop power line switches in response to signals received from a remote location. An actuator piston and cylinder assembly is mounted to a power pole in alignment with existing actuator linkage. The piston and cylinder actuator assembly is translatable in response to pressurized fluid delivered through fluid lines to the cylinder. A control unit also mounted to the power pole, and in operative association with the piston and cylinder actuator assembly, houses a source of pressurized fluid. Manual operation of the poletop switches is retained by an existing operating lever. Adjustment linkage is provided for proper positioning of the actuator assembly with the existing actuator linkage. Operating signals received by the control unit result in activation of solenoids to deliver the pressurized fluid to the cylinder. Simplicity of design and linear alignment with the existing actuator linkage allow for easy installation and operation.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for operating a high-voltage switch wherein the switch is mounted to the top of a utility pole and wherein said switch is connected to mechanical linkage extending along the pole and is activated through manipulation of said linkage, said device comprising: a manually-operable lever having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is rotatably connected to said pole at a pivot point;   a reciprocating assembly having first and second ends, said first end connected to said linkage and said second end connected to said lever at a point spaced from said pivot point such that a force applied in a first direction at said second end of said lever imparts movement of said assembly in said first direction, said assembly having a cylinder and having a reciprocating piston disposed therein for movement of said assembly while said lever is stationary, said movement of said assembly occurring between a first position wherein said reciprocating assembly is a first length and said switch is open, and a second position wherein said reciprocating assembly is a second different length and said switch is closed; and   a control unit in operative association with said reciprocating assembly permitting said position of said reciprocating assembly to be monitored and varied by said control unit.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said reciprocating assembly is pneumatically operated. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein said second end of said lever may be manually actuated to open said switch even when said reciprocating assembly is positioned so that said switch is in said closed position. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a position sensor attached to said reciprocating assembly signaling when said switch is in said open position and when said switch is in said closed position. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1 wherein said control unit includes a compressed gas tank, a regulator connected to said gas tank for regulating the flow of gas from said tank, a pair of lines providing communication between said tank and said cylinder for transferring gas to said cylinder, a valve to said lines controlling the flow of gas in said air lines, and a radio operated electronic control system controlling said valve in response to signals received from a remote location. 
     
     
       6. The automated device described in claim 1 wherein said reciprocating assembly includes means for manually adjusting the position of said reciprocating assembly relative to said lever. 
     
     
       7. The automated device described in claim 1 wherein said reciprocating movement of said piston relative to said cylinder and said movement of said linkage are collinear. 
     
     
       8. A device for engaging and disengaging a poletop-mounted switch through actuation of linkage connected to said switch and extending axially along said pole, said device comprising: a cylinder having first and second ends and having a reciprocating piston disposed therein, said piston being positionable between said first and second ends and said linkage connected to said first end of said cylinder, and wherein said switch is engaged when said piston is positioned at said second end of said cylinder and said switch is disengaged when said piston is positioned at said first end of said cylinder;   a connecting rod attached to said piston and extending axially away from said piston and out of said second end of said cylinder;   a lever having a handle end and a pivot end wherein said pivot end is pivotally mounted to said pole below said cylinder and said connecting rod operatively attached to said lever, said lever manually operable to disengage said switch through rotation of said lever about said pivot point when said piston is positioned adjacent said second end of said cylinder;   a position sensor indicating the position of said cylinder relative to said piston; and   a remotely-operated control system to operate said switch, said control system varying the relative positions of said piston and said cylinder in response to signals received by said control system.   
     
     
       9. The device of claim 8 further comprising an adjustment apparatus attached between said connecting rod and said lever permitting the position of said piston relative to said lever to be varied. 
     
     
       10. A device for selectively opening and closing high voltage power switches wherein said switches are mounted on an upper end of an electric pole and said device is mounted on a lower end of said pole, and wherein said switches and said device are mechanically connected by an elongated rod, said device comprising: a piston and cylinder assembly having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said cylinder is formed with an interior chamber for receiving said piston and allowing translational movement therein by said piston, said piston dividing said interior chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper end of said assembly attached to said rod; and   a control system connected to said piston and cylinder assembly, said control system operative to receive signals and direct fluid to said cylinder in response to said signals to actuate said assembly; and   a manually operable override controller operably coupled to said rod to open said switches in response to a force applied to said manually operable override controller.   
     
     
       11. The device of claim 10 further comprising an adjustment bracket connected to said lower end of said assembly permitting movement of the position of said piston and cylinder assembly, said adjustment bracket adapted to be mounted to said pole, wherein said adjustment bracket, said assembly, and said rod are linearly aligned; 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 10 wherein said actuation of said assembly is a translatable movement resulting in a substantially identical translatable movement of said rod. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 10 wherein said control system contains a central processing unit and at least one electronic solenoid operating a corresponding fluid valve, wherein said central processing unit activates said solenoid in response to said signals. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim 13 wherein said signals include an open signal and a close signal, and wherein said solenoid is activated to direct pressurized gas to said upper chamber of said cylinder in response to said close signal, and said solenoid is activated to direct pressurized gas to said lower chamber in response to said open signal. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 13 wherein said signals are radio signals transmitted through the air. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim 10 wherein said lower end of said assembly comprises a connecting rod attached to said piston and extending out of said cylinder. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 10 wherein said piston and cylinder assembly further comprises a biasing spring preventing said switches from inadvertently opening if said cylinder is exhausted of pressurized gas. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 10 further comprising means for sensing the position of said cylinder relative to said piston, and means for transmitting the position information to said control system and to said control center. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 18 wherein said sensing means is a magnetically sensitive transducer attached to said cylinder and said transmitting means is a wire attached to said transducer and to said control system. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 10 wherein said manual operable controller permits manual operation of said device to open said switches when said control system receives a signal to close said switches. 
     
     
       21. The device described in claim 20 wherein said manually operable controller comprises a rotatably mounted lever. 
     
     
       22. A system capable of opening and closing high voltage power switches wherein said switches are mounted on an upper end of an electric pole and wherein said switches are operatively connected by an elongated rod to a lever attached to a lower end of said pole, said system comprising: an in-line actuator having a first end and a second end wherein said actuator is adapted to be positioned at said lower end of said pole between said rod and said lever, said actuator adapted for connection to said elongated rod at said first end, and adapted for connection to said lever at said second end, said actuator positioned linearly with said elongated rod and providing translatable movement of said rod to open and close said switches in response to translatable movement of said actuator; and   a controller attached to said pole and in communication with said actuator, said controller containing a receiver to receive a signal, a processor to process said signal, and an apparatus responsive to said processed signal to vary the direction of translatable movement by said actuator.   
     
     
       23. The system of claim 22 wherein said actuator further comprises a sensor detecting the position of said actuator and wherein said controller further comprises a transmitter, said sensor in communication with said controller providing actuator positional information to said controller and said transmitter capable of forwarding said information to a switch monitoring center. 
     
     
       24. The system of claim 23 wherein said controller forwards said information to said switch monitoring center in response to an inquiry by said switch monitoring center regarding said switches. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 22 wherein said actuator includes an adjustment bracket positioned between said lever and said rod permitting translatable movement of said actuator in response to a torque applied to said adjustment bracket. 
     
     
       26. A method of converting an existing manually operated set of electric poletop switches attached to an electric power pole wherein said poletop switches are mechanically attached to a distal operating lever by a rod running therebetween, to an automated system for actuating said poletop switches in response to an electronic command comprises the following steps: providing a translatable cylinder assembly capable of movement between two positions in response to the flow of fluid, said flow of fluid controlled by a remote receiving and processing unit;   removing a section of said rod near said operating lever;   substituting said cylinder assembly for said section of said removed rod so that said assembly is linearly aligned with said rod;   securing one end of said cylinder assembly to said rod and securing an opposite end of said cylinder assembly to said operating lever permitting said poletop switches to be manually opened in response to movement of said operating lever; and   mounting said remote receiving and processing unit to said power pole in a position for operative association with said cylinder assembly.   
     
     
       27. The method described in claim 26 wherein said cylinder assembly comprises an adjustment bracket for manually positioning said assembly, and said method further comprising the steps of: manually adjusting said adjustment bracket to align said movement of said cylinder assembly with said operation of said poletop switches;   applying a source of power to said control system to energize said system to operate said solenoids in response to receipt of said electronic command.   
     
     
       28. A system for operating a high-voltage power switch wherein said switch is mounted to a top end of a utility power pole and movement of said switch is controlled through actuating linkage extending along the length of said pole towards the ground, said system comprising: an automated controller positioned toward the bottom of said pole and connected to said linkage, said controller capable of movement between a first position to close said switch and a second position to open said switch;   a manual controller connected to said automated controller and capable of movement between a first position to close said switch and a second position to open said switch; and   wherein said switch is open when one of said automated or said manual controllers is in said respective second position even if said other of said automated or manual controllers is in said respective first position.